Power belt retaining device



F. D. JONES ETAL POWER BELT RETAINING DEVICE Oct. 26, 1948.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1947 INVENTOM F.. JONES L.G.CHEATUM ATTORNEYS F. D. JONES ETAL POWER BELT RETAINING DEVICE dawns-sh et 2 Filed May 26, 1947 INVENTOR6 F.D JONES & L.G..CHEATUM ATTORNEYS F. D. JONES ETAL 2,452,306 -POWER BELT RETAINING DEV ICE Oct. .26, '1 948.,

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 26, 1947 I NV EN TORS M w W E A N E R H O x n G. A L a d S Oct. 26, 1948. F. D. JONES ETAL POWER BELT RETAINING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4' Filed May 26, 1947 INVENTORS F. D. JONES 5 L.6.CHEATUM ATTORNEYS Oct. 26, .1948. JONES i 7 2,452,306 I POWER'BELT RETAINING DEVICE Filed Mai 26, 1947 INVENTORS F .JONES 6'L.G.CHEATUM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 26, 1948 POWER BELT RETAINING DEVICE Frank D. Jones and Leo G. 'Cheatum, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignors. to Deere Manufacturing 00., a

corporation of Iowa Application May 26, 1947, Serial No. 750,488

(Cl. M -242.5)

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally topower transmitting mechanism and more particularly to mechanism of the type comprising a pair of pulleys or sheaves interconnected by a flexible endless power transmitting element, such. as a belt. In some belt installations, it is. frequently necessary to shut down and swing one of the pulleys horizontally to an inoperative position for a short time and then return the pulley to. normal operating position and resume operation. An example of this is a blower type elevator of the type having a feed trough which feeds material such as chopped hay or ensilage, into a blower, which elevates the material to a hay mow or silo. The chopped ensilage is brought up to the feed trough in a wagon, which is unloaded by raising the front end of the wagon to dump the material into the trough. In order to avoid backing the wagon up to the feeder trough, the trough is mounted for horizontal swinging movement, thus providing for swinging the trough out of the way of the wagon to permit the latter to be drawn into position, after which the trough is swung back to its normal position under the tail gate of the wagon.

Sometimes the trough is swung horizontally relative to the blower housing, while: in other installations the blower housing and trough are rigidly connected together and are swung about a vertical axis passing, through the upwardly extending exhaust duct of the blower. Ordinarily, the blower is driven by a flexible endless power transmitting belt trained over the belt pulley of a tractor or other suitable prime mover. Obviously, when the entire blower, with its feeder and drive pulley, is swung horizontally through. an angle of about ninety degrees to permit passage of the wagon, the drive belt will ialloff the pulley and therefore must be replaced after each wagon has passed the elevator.

It is the principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a device for retaining the power transmitting belt on the blower pulley to prevent the belt from falling ofi the latter. when the blower is swung angularly through. an. angle of about ninety degrees.

Another object relates to the provision. of means. for automatically engaging and disengaging the belt retaining device when the implement is shifted out of and returned toits normal operating position, respectively. A further object relates to the provision of. a belt retaining device comprising a hemicylindrical clamping member which engages that portion of the belt which. is trained over the pulley tohold it in placeregardless of the angular shifting movement of the blower. 1

Still another object relates to the provision of control means responsive to the slackening of the belt as the pulley changes its position, for clamping the device upon the belt and pulley.

Still another object relates to the provision of description, in which reference is had to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure. 1 is a top plan view of a blower type elevator embodying the principles of the present invention, showing in solid. lines the normal operating. position of the implement, and in dotted lines the position of the implement after it has been. swung horizontally through approximately ninety degrees;

Figure 2 is a. side elevational view of the em.-

), bodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a. rear elevational view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, showing the disengaged position of the retaining device in solid 1ines,.and. showing in dotted lines the retaining device in its belt retaining position;

Figure. 4 is av rear elevational view showing a modified form of. the invention;

Figure 5 isa side elevational View of the blower and belt retaining device of the form illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6- is a top plan view showing a portion of a blower with drive pulley, and a belt retaining device embodying a third form of the present invention and adapted for manual operation; and

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view of the modification shown. in Figure 6.

Referring now tothe drawings, the elevator comprises a blower, ill and a feed trough H, extending generally parallel to the aXis of rotation. of the blower rotor (not shown) and communieating with a feed opening I 2 in the blower. The blower wand trough II. are mounted on a horizontal frame 13 andcomprise a unitary rigid structure;

The blower frame is mounted on a pair of structural. legs l5, I6, which are supported on. a

transversely disposedchannel member H, which projects laterally at opposite sides-of the blower, respectively, and is provided with apertures I8, through which anchor stakes can be driven to secure the channel member I! firmly to the ground during operation. A forwardly extending channel member 9 is rigidly fixed to the channel member H at one end and extends beneath the trough H, providing stability for the blower during operation. A curved bracing member 20 extends fromthe outer end of the channel member I9 and is fixed to the other channel member H.

The blower I is pivotally mounted on the channel I! .by means of a pivot bolt 25 disposed on a vertical axis and extending through aligned apertures in the channel I! and a base plate 26 on the bottom of the leg member I5, which is box shaped and comprises three vertical plates 27, 28, 29 fixed together and to opposite'sides' of the blower Ill.

The other leg I 6 is also of box construction that has a base plate 30 which rests on top of the channel member ll, but swings horizontally awaynfrorn the top of "the channel I! when the blower is shifted angularly about the vertical axis of .the pivot bolt 25.

The outer end of the trough H is supported on a ground engaging wheel 35 journaled on an axle 3B which is supported in a pair of depending supports 37 fixed to the frame l3 of the trough. The axle 36 is disposed generally parallel to the trough and provides for supporting the latter at all times during operation and during swinging movement of the blower l0 and trough l I about the vertical axis of the pivot bolt 25. A handle 38 is fixed to .the outer end of the trough H, the. handle providing a convenient grip for the operator to use in swinging the elevator an trough.

Disposed within the trough is an auger feeder 40, which rotates to move the crop material axially within the trough and through the feed opening i2 into the blower I0.

The blower I0 is provided with an upwardly extending discharge duct 4i, rigidly fixed to the blower It] and disposed coaxial with the pivot bolt 25. The duct 4| is connected with a coaxial discharge pipe or conduit 42 bymeans of a swivel joint 43, comprising .a radially outwardly extendingflange 44 around the upper end of the exhaust duct 4| and an annular flange 45 fixed to the discharge pipe 42 and folded around the edge of the flange 44 and extending inwardly beneath the latterat 46. g r o It is'now evident that when the blower lfland trough I are swung horizontallyiaround the axis of the pivot bolt 25, .the exhaust duct 4| turns about the same axis but the discharge pipe 42 remains stationary, the upper end being supported on the silo or wall of the barn in a conventional manner. v

The blower rotor (not shown) is provided with a drive shaft 50 which extends out of. the blower l0 through a bearing sleeve and carries a drive pulley 52 at its outer end. The bearing sleeve 5| is supported on outwardly converging frame members 53 carried on a vertical leg 54 whichis fastenedgat its lower end by a bolt 55 to a horizontal plate: 55 extending rearwardly from the blower i0. l v

The pulley 52 is driven by a flexible endless power transmitting element in the form of a fiat belt 60 trained around the pulley 52 and around a drive pulley 5| mountedon a drive shaft 62, which receives power from any conventional source (not shown), such as an electric motor or internal combustion engine disposed, remotely from the blower l0. V

A belt retainer i-s'indicated in its entirety by 4 reference numeral 55 and comprises a U-shaped clamping element 65 which embraces the pulley 52 and the belt 58 and is rigidly mounted on a pair of parallel links 5?, which are apertured at 68 to receive the end of a pin 69 which is fixed to the blower i8 and to the vertical leg 54 and carries the links 61 providing for rocking movement about the axis of the pin 89.

An eye'bolt Hi is pivotally connected by a pivot .bolt between the outer ends of the links 61 and depends therefrom, being inserted through an aperture 12 in the horizontal plate 56. A hell- 'prises cooperative toggle links, which can be moved against the pressure of the compression spring 13 through an over-center aligned position to rock the U-shaped retainer 66 into and out of engagement with that portion of the belt 60 which is trained around the periphery of the pulley 52.

As viewed in Figure 3 (solid lines) the toggle joint 1| is slightly to the left of the dead center aligned position, and the pressure of the spring (3 tends to rotate the links 61 in a clockwise direction about the axis of the pin 69, thereby tending to swing the retainer 66 clockwise away from the belt 60 on the pulley 52. Movement in this direction is limited by a stop flange l5 enga ing thelo-wer end of the eyebolt Hi to prevent further movement.

When the retainer 66 and links 6! are rocked about the aXis of the pin 69 in a counterclockwise direction-, the toggle joint 1| moves over-center, after which the compression spring H1 urges the links 67 in a counterclockwise direction to force thecurved portion of the belt retainer 66 into engagement with the belt 60 to hold the latter tight against the periphery of 'the'pulley 52, and thus'preventing accidental displacement of the beitfrom the pulley, regardless of angular displacement of the pulley when the blower and feeder trough are swung horizontally about the axis'fof the pivot bolt 25. p

"The belt retainer 66 is shifted automatically into engagement with the belt 60 when the blower iss'wung angularly as will now be explained The upper andlower'sidesof the U-shaped clamping element 56 are extended along the upper and lower nights of the belt 60, as indicated by reference'numerals 18, 19. Each of these extensions carries a roller 80, 8|, respectively, each of which isj mounted ion a shaft 82 journaled in a pair of sleeve bearings 83, 84 I at oppostie ends of the roller; Each roller projects through an aperture 85' inthe associatedleg or the retainer, providing for rolling contact between the two rollers 80, 8| and theouter surface of the belt 60. It will now be evident that when the blower and pulley are a'ngularl'y shifted about the pivot bolt 25, the pulley-52 moves toward the drivin pulley 6| causing the belt' 6D to slacken and drop into contact with'the' lower roller 8|, thus forcing the lower arm 19, downwardly about the axis of the supporting pin 69, This shifts the toggle joint 1| across the dead-center position, after which the spring' fltfurges the links 61 and retainer 56 in a counterclockwise direction against the por When the new wagon is in position, the blower and trough are then returned to normal posit.

tion, thereby causing the pulley 52 to move away from the drive pulley GI and tighten the belt Gil until the upper flight of the belt engages the upper roller 80,:urging the upper arm I3 of the belt retainer upwardly and shifting the belt retainer 6B in a clockwise direction about the axis of the supporting pin 69, thereby shifting the toggle joint II across the dead-center position until the eyebolt '10 engages the stop '15. In this position the belt retainer 66 does not touch the belt 60 at any point and therefore the drive pulley 61, which is necessarily stationary during the shifting movement, can be brought up to speed once more to drive the blower.

A pair of stub axles 90 are secured, as by weld! ing 9I,-to the inner side of the channel member ITfwhich is disposed in inverted position. The stub axles 90 are adapted to receive a pair of transport wheels 92 after the blower has been jacked up off the ground, after which the forwardly extending channel I9- is secured to a bracket 93 depending from the frame I 3. For this purpose a bolt 94 is insertable through aligned apertures in the bracket 93 and in an angle A brace 56 extends diagonally upwardly and out wardy from the lower end of the bracket 93. The outer end of the trough frame I3 is provided with a draft plate 91 provided with an aperture 88 1 by which the plate 9'! can bemounted on and connected to the drawbar of a tractor.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures-4 and 5, the belt retainer I comprises a U-shaped clamping element I III mounted on a blower Ill and is provided with a downwardly ex-- tending supporting arm IE6 at its outer end, which carries a pivoted control lever I01 mounted on the arm I06 by a pivot bolt I68. The upper end of the lever Ill! is connected by a pin I09 to a clevis IIII fixed to the outer end of the rod Hi2. A helical spring I I 5 is stressed in tension between an angle piece I I6 fixed to the supporting channel I03 and an anchor bolt IIl secured to the clevis III]. The spring II5 tends to urge the clamping member IIH toward the left, as viewed in Figure 4, toward the holding position indicated in dotted lines in engagement with that portion of the belt 69 which is trained around the pulley 52.

During normal operation, however, the retaining device is disabled by the control lever I01 engaging a stop in the form of a structural angle piece I rigidly fixed, as by welding, to a frame member I2 I extending rearwardly from the transverse channel member I'I. It will be evident that when the blower I9 and feeder trough II swing about the vertical axis of the pivot bolt 25, the lever IIJ'I moves away from the stop I20, thereby allowing the spring H5 to urge the clamping member IBI into engagement with the belt 60 and pulley 52 to retain the belt on the pulley. When the blower I9 is returned to its normal position, the lower end of the lever IIl'I once more engages the stop I20 and pulls the retainer IEII away from engagement with the belt 630, after which operation can be resumed once more.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 6 and 7, the belt retaining device I in this embodiment is manually operated and comprises a U-shaped clamping member I26 mounted on a supporting rod I27, which is carried on a pair of upper and lower pivoted links I28, which are pivotally' connected to the rod IZ'I by a pivot pin I29: and at their opposite ends are connected by a pivot pin ISO to a supporting frame member I3I. The outer end of the supporting shaft I2'l is pivoted at I32 to the end of a control lever I33 which is pivotally supported at I34 on a frame member I35. fixed to the blower ID. The lever I33 is provided with a handle I35 by means. of which the lever can be swung about the supporting pivot I34 to shift the clamping member I26 between engaged position, as indicated in dotted lines, and disengaged position, as indicated in solid lines.

The retaining member I26 is held'in either engaged or disengaged position by means of an over-center spring mechanism including a tension spring Mil anchored at one end to a lug MI on the frame member IBI and passing near the pivot axis of the pivot pin I39 to a connection with the pivot pin I29. i

In the disengaged position, shown in solid lines. the tension spring Ml! tends to swing the links I28- in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, thus holding the clamping member I26 away from the belt 653. When the operator swings the lever I33 in a clockwise direction toward the position indicated in dotted lines, the clamping member I25 is pushed forwardly toward the pule.

ley 52, whereupon the links I28 move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, stressing the spring hill in tension until the axisof thespring passes over the axis, of the pivot pin I30, after which the spring tension tends-to urge the clamping member I26 into clamping engagement with the portion of the belt 50 which is trained around the pulley 52, thereby retaining the belt on the pulley as the latter is shifted angularly from its operating position.

We claim:

1. In combination with a pulley and a flexible power transmitting element trained thereover, a retaining device for holding said element on said pulley comprising a U-shaped clamping member adapted to straddle said pulley and element thereon, and means for urging said member into clamping engagement.

2. In combination with a pulley, a flexible power transmitting element trained thereover and a support for said pulley, said support being shiftable to swing the axis of said pulley angularly out of and into a normal operating position, a retaining device mounted on said support by means providing for shifting movement into and out of a position in engagement with a portion of said element engaging said pulley, and means for holding said device in said engaging position to retain said element on said pulley during a shifting of the latter out of said normal position.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision that said device comprises a U-shaped clamping member adapted to straddle that arcuate portion of the pulley over which said element is trained.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision that said mounting means for said retaining device comprises a link means swingably mounted on said support and said holding means includes an over-center spring mechanism for urging said retaining device into or out of holding position, selectively.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision of means responsive to slackening of said flexible power transmit- 7. ting element for shifting said retaining device into retaining position.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision that said retainin evice includes a control part extending under said flexible power transmitting element and engageable by the latter when it slackens responsive to shifting movement of said support, to shift said retaining device into retaining position.

7. The combination set iorth in claim 2, including the further provision that said retaining device includes control parts extending above and below said flexible power transmitting element, said part below the element being engageable by the latter when it slackens responsive to shifting movement of said support, to shift said retaining device into engagement with said element to hold the latter on said pulley, and said part above the element being engageable by the latter as it tightens responsive to return of said support to normal position, to shift said retaining device to an inoperative position.

8. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision that said retaining device comprises a U-shaped clamping member adapted to straddle that arcuate portion of the pulley over which said element is trained and having sides extended over and under said flexible element, and said mounting means for the retaining device comprising a pivot pin on said support beneath said pulley, said side extended under said element being engageable by the latter when it slackens, thereby swinging said retaining device into engagement with the power transmitting element on said arcuate portion of the pulley, said side of the device extended over said power transmitting element being engageable by the latter as it tightens, to shift said retaining device to disengaged position.

9. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision of means responsive to shifting of said support for controlling the movement of said retaining device into and out of engagement with said element.

10. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision that said holding means comprises means for biasing said retaining device toward engagement with said element, and including control means operable automatically when said pulley is in normal operating position for overcoming said biasing means to hold said device out of engagement, said control means being disabled responsive to shifting said support and pulley out of said normal position to permit said retaining means to move into engaged position. i

11. The combination set forth in claim 2, including the further provision that said holding means comprises a spring for urging said retaining device toward engagement with said element, and further including a control lever mounted on said support for shifting said retaining device out of engagement, said lever being engageable with a stop when said support and pulley are shifted into operating position to hold said retaining means out of engagement with said element, against the force of said spring.

FRANK D. JONES. LEO G. CHEATUM.

No references cited. 

